Metal-vapor rectifier and similar apparatus.



APPLICATION FILED JULY23, I912. RENEWED APR. I9, 1918.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918. I

[NV NTOR,

A TTORNE 35' F=OTQ-UYHO by SACKETT & WILHELMS CORP NY IBELA SCI-IAEFER, OF FRANiKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN-BOCKENHEIM, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T THE-'FIRM OF HARTMANN MANY.

& BRAUN A. G., OF FRANKFQRT-ON-THE-MA IN, Q3313,-

' METAL-VAPOR RECTIFIER AND SIMILAR APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 26, 1918.

application filed July 23, 1912, Serial No. 711,082. Renewed April 1 9, 1918. Serial No. 229,657.

1/ b all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BILA SCHAEFER, a citi- Frankfort-on-the-Main-Bockenheim, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Province of Hesse= Nassau, Germany, have invented certain new .and useful Improvements in Metal-Vapor Rectifiers and Similar Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

' This invention relates broadly to metallic vapor rectifiers and the like, and more par ticularly aims to provide an apparatus adapted efliciently to condense the generated metallic vapors.

The cardinal object of this invention is to provide, in connection with the wellknown vacuum chamber (hereinafter referred to as the main vessel), an externally situated cooling or condensing chamber or chambers which, while of very simple construction, will exceed in efficiency anything heretofore proposed.

. Another object is to so provide such a condensing chamber that the condensed metallic vapor flows directly from the condensing chamber back to the main vessel; as opposed to the indirect backflow, induced by a Sprengel pump or other auxiliary device, heretofore present in connection with the condensation of mercury vapor.

Another object is to provide a gas-tight connection between the main vessel and a condensing chamber,and a connection which is preferably arranged for the convenient detachment of said condensing chamber from said main vessel.

Another object is to provide such a combination 'of main vessel and condensing chamber as to permit of the convenient in troduction within the. main vessel of one or a plurality of anodes, either to extend laterally or to depend within said main vessel.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less broad than those statedabove together with the advantages inherent, will be in part obvious andin part specifically referred to in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention;- and the scope of protection contemplated will appear from the claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, which is to be taken as a part of this specification, and wherein are shown several embodiments of this invention as at present preferred:

Figure l is a vertical sectional view, taken axiall of one of said embodiments;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, taken axially of another of saidembodiments; and 4 Fig. 3 is a similar view, taken axially of another of said embodiments.

Similar reference characters refer to simi-. lar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now particularly to Fig; 1, the

actual vacuum vessel 9 is furnished with a plurality of anodes a and agandwith a cathode is, and is sealed at its .upper and lower extremities by means of covers 6 and d. The cover d thus here serves as a means for the introduction into the vessel 9 of the anodes, and as a joint between the chamber 0 and said vessel. Attention is directed to the valuable annular space established between the chamber 0 and the vessel 9, which may constitute a convenient cavity for the in sertion, withdrawal or adjustment of. said anodes. The condensing chamber 0 communicates with the vessel 9 by way of the opening 0, and is mounted upon and supported by saidvessel 9 in the manner shown, that is, by means of the screws f. Both the vessel 9 and the chamber 0 are preferably surrounded by jackets k, and k which, by

way of the tubes 1",, r, and 13, here communicate with one another and are cooled by means of a flowing or circulating fluid.

Valves m and n enable the temperature to:

be regulated within wide ranges. It should be noted that the anodes are arranged, as far removed from the center of the opening 0 as practicable to facilitate convenience in manipulating the screws 7 whencong with the condens necting the main vessel ing chamber 0 Y Y The manner of operation of this embodiment, in respect of the incidental genera-, tion of metallic vapor, is in accordance with the usual method. In the present instance, however, the vapor ascends, toward and passes through the opening 0 and thence into the large but immediately adjacent condensing chamber 0, as diagrammatically in- Leeaeoe dicated by the arrows so that the metal eondensed from the metallic vapor is enabled thereupon to descend, pass through the said opening 0, and return to mingle with the bed of metal surrounding the cathode is, the same bed of metal from which metallic vapor was, or simultaneously is, being generated.

Referring now particularlyto Fig. 2, it will be observed that the same shows a construction generally similar to that of Fig. 1, a; may be observed from the similar referen inumerals applied to both said figures, but construction wherein the capacity of the condensing chamber .0 is considerably larger than that of the vacuum vessel 9 and wherein the chamber 0 is provided with a pluralit of battle plates 8 which serve to increase the condensing surface and at the same time collect dust and prevent the same from impairing the action of the vacuum pump.

It will be-observed that the parts here constituting the main vessel 9 and the chamher 0, both in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and in that shown in Fig.2, are prefer ably of equal dimensions (excepting, and

-that only in the case of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, merely as regards length), thus rendering the manufacture of the apparatus considerably simplified. It will also be observed that the connection between the two vessels offers the" lowest resistance attainable to the passageof gas or vapor.

The manner of operation of this embodiment is generally similar to that described above in connection with the operation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3, it

. will beobserved that the same shows a con struction generally similar to that of Figs, 1.

as may be observed from the similar reference numerals applied to both said figures, but a construction wherein the condensing chamber a of either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 is replaced by a coiled tube 0 and wherein the lower terminus ofsaid tube 0 is detachably connected with the main vessel 7 as by means of the screw threads shown. It should be noted that it is preferable to have the cooling surface presented by said tube 0 equal to or greater than the cooling surface presented by the main vessel 9. Indeed, instead of a cylindrical chamber (2, any system of tubes connected with a vacuum vessel 9 may within. the scope of this invention equivalently serve as a condensing appara-.

above in connection with the operation of the embodiment shown inFig. 1.

It should be understood that in vapor elec tric apparatus and more particularly in mercury vapor rectifiers for small output, the vacuum or main vessel (say the vessel 0) is commonly made of glass and so fashioned that a considerable part of it serves for condensing the metal vapors: and that even in mercury rectifiers for large output, wherein said vessel ordinarily-consists of metal, a separate condensing chamber has not hitherto been provided, a relatively large vacuum or main vessel 9 (and an ample cooling of the vessel walls) having been deemed sutlicient. however, shown that the cooling of the surface of the main vessel is not suflicie'nt, and that to secure efliciency in a rectifier having a metal vessel, the provision of a separate condensing chamber is necessary; and hence the present invention. which discloses an associated main vessel 9 and an independent, separate condensing chamber 0. This independent condensing chamber, moreover, is so arranged in such conveniently detachable relation to the main vessel, that there are provided, not only the advantages inherent in. the assembled construction, but also the advantages resident in the fact that the anodes may be introduced within the main vessel from overhead, rather than laterally, thus to dispense with the many defects usually encountered in lateral introduction. A cardinal defect in connection with late at introduction of the anodes (for example, through side branches welded into the vessel) would be due to the fact that the welded points cannot be rendered absolutely gas-tight. It would thus be seen that even in the cases of heretofore known constructions the o\ erhead introduction of the anodes is more favorable, since welding points could be avoided; but in vacuum vessels having no condensing chamber, and especially in cylindrical vessels of this type, the facts have been that, on the one hand, in endeavoring to obtain the required capacity by enlarging the lateral dimensions, as the diameter, of the vessel, very large terminal pieces have been required, the anchoring and tightening of which oifered many difliculties, and, on the other hand, in endeavoring to obtain such capacity by enlarging the vessel longitudinally, leading-1n conductors for the anodes of excessive len th have been necessary, capable of conducting the heat only in a very insufficient manner. While it is true that in somevacuum vessels, externally situated condensing chambers have been employed, it should be noted that these have been of, such small dimensions in comparison with the main vessel that any material enlargement of the condensing surface has been practically imposwhich have penetrated into or were genereach of the various "embodiments of this inaeaaeoe sible; moreover, their construction has been complex and their manner of operation has been quite diiferent from that which characterizes the present invention, in that not only was it necessary to condense the metal vapors, present in abundance, but to remove obnoxious gases and to recover any mercury which may have accidentally been drawn out. .They have been provided with various means (such as a Sprengels air-pump, magnesium arc, &c.) to remove extraneous gases ated within the main vessel. And it was in the light of several inventions since come into existence, which are calculated to prevent the access of air, as well as to remove the residual gases and the necessity for as frequently as heretofore exhausting the air, that the present invention was conceived.

Therefore, in carrying this invention into practice,,it is not sufiicient touse an auxiliary vessel or chamber of relatively small internal capacity, but it isessential that by the addition of this chamber the original internal capacity of the apparatus shall be doubled. I It will readily be seen that, in addition to the novel employment of an independent, separate condensing chamber as andof thecharacter herein described, a disclosure is presented, due to the characteristic arrangementof the parts shown in connection with vention, that, among other advantageous features, ermits ofa new and increased efficiency oi the apparatus, permits of the ready separation of the main vessel and condensing chamber (whether to-insert or -ad-.

to the interior of the main vessel), permits ofa relatively narrow, normally gas-tight passageway (the opening 0) between the main vessel and condensing chamber, and permits of an overhead rather than a lateral insertion or adjustment of said anodes at any time, either via annular space 8, or simply separating, by means of the convenient arrangement shown, as, for example, the

cover d, the main vessel and the condensing" chamber.

Inasmuch as many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of made without departmy invention could be from the scope thereof, it is intended that all ma ttei oritained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shallbe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the lan guage usedintlTe following claims is intended to cover alt the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the in ust the anodes or otherwise to have access spaced from vention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by-Letters Patent, is: I s

1. In metal-vapor electric apparatus, in combination, avacuum chamber, an independent condensing chamber, one of said chambers being-located above the other but spaced therefrom, a relatively narrow tube connecting: said chambers, and a plurality of anodes passing through the interior of the lower of said chambers, the outer ends of the anodes being accessible within the space between the two chambers.

2. In metal-vapor electric apparatus, in combination, a vacuum vessel, a removable cover for the same, anodes carried by the cover, and a condensing chamber supported by the cover and in communication with the interior of the vacuum vessel.

3. In metal-vapor electric apparatus, in combination, a vacuum vessel, a cover for the same, anodes carried by the cover, and a condensing chamber supported by the cover and, in communication with the interior of In metal-vapor electric apparatus, in"

combination, a vacuum vessel, an independent condensmg chamber connected to the vacuum vess'el by a relatively narrow passage, and a cooling jacket adjacent said vessel and said chamber.

6. In metal-vapor electric apparatus, in combination, a vacuum vessel includingv two chambers arranged one above the other, the upper one, at least as large as-the lower one, serving as a condensing chamber, a cover for the lower vessel, anodes supported by said cover and extending into the lower vessel, the upper vessel having, a "bottom and a restricted con said cover, duit establishing communication through the bottom of the upper chamber and the cover of the lower chamber.

7. In'metal-vapor electric apparatus, in combination, a vacuum vesseland va condensing chain bottom of one spaced apart from the top of the other, a plurality of anodescarriedby the top of the vacuum vessel, and a. conduit extending across the space between the bottom of the condensing chamber and the top of thevacuum vessel and establishing a communication between the interiors of the vacuum vessel and condensing chamber.

the top and into I equal to or greater than that er in superposed relation, the

uie

a lower vapor chamber, a cover for the V vapor chamber having an orifice which communicates with the upper condensing chamber, said orifice-being widened at its upper part so as to receive the lower extremity of the condensing chamber, the said cover being detachably connected with the vapor chamber, and a plurality of electrodes led in through said cover.

9. In metal-vapor electric apparatus, a vapor chamber, a condensing chamber in communication therewith, cooling jackets surrounding the vapor chamber and the conaaeasoe densing chamber, said jackets being in communication with each other.

10. In metal-vapor electric apparatus, in combination, a vapor chamber, a condensing chamber in communication therewith, a plurality of electrodes within the vapor chamber, anda screen for directing the anode streams toward the cathode.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BELA SCHAEFER.

Witnesses:

JEAN GRUND, CARL Gnome. 

